Aquaculture Operators and Managers


Aquaculture operators and managers manage operations of facilities which cultivate and harvest fish, shellfish or marine plants for replenishment of wildlife stocks or for commercial sale. They are employed by public or private fish hatcheries and commercial aquatic farms, or they may be self-employed.

Example Titles

aquaculture manager
aquaculture operator
fish farm manager
fish farm operator
fish farmer
fish hatchery manager
fish hatchery operator
mussel grower
oyster grower
salmon grower
trout farmer



Main duties

Aquaculture operators and managers perform some or all of the following duties:

• Manage the overall operation of a fish hatchery, fish farm or other aquatic farm

• Identify requirements of the species and select and oversee preparation of site for species cultivation

• Co-ordinate selection and maintenance of brood stock

• Determine food requirements and structure feeding regimes

• Monitor environment and maintain optimum conditions

• Conduct and supervise stock examination to identify disease or parasites, and apply prescribed medicinal substances to control and prevent infection

• Operate and maintain cultivating and harvesting equipment

• Collect and record growth and production data

• Supervise and train aquaculture and fish hatchery support workers and supervise technicians and technologists

• Maintain financial records and establish market strategies, inventory and quality control methods

• Scuba dive to inspect sea farm operations

• Design and construct pens, floating stations and collector strings or fences for sea farms.

Employment requirements

• Completion of secondary school is usually required.

• A college diploma in aquaculture or a related field or Several years of experience in fishing or aquaculture operations are usually required.

• A commercial aquaculture or fish hatchery license, permit or lease is required for self-employed aquaculture operators and managers.